The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-06-04
A DIPLOMATS SPEECH.

a DIPLOMATS SPEECH.
An Amusing Story Of Lord Ponsonby and
Ills Nervous Interpreter.
In 1910, when victory was gained
over the Egyptian army in Syria by the
combined British and Turkish forces,
a number of trophies in flags, banners.
ETC., were sent by General Smith and
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, who com.
manded the British forces, to Lord Pom.
sonby, the Ambassador at Constantine.
pie, to present the Sultan.
A day having been fixed for. the
audience. Lord Ponsonby prepared the
speech he proposed to deliver, and d.
rected Mr.. Frederick Pisani, Chief
Dragoman of the Embassy, to write
out a translation into the Turkish Ian
guage, and to learn it by heart. He
was instructed not to pay any attention
to Lord Ponsonby's utterances during
the audience, but, when requested by
his Excellency, he was to repeat the
prepared speech, and subsequently the
replies, which had likewise been pre-
pared in answer to the Sultan's
language, of which his Excellency
was able to guess the
purport. Lord Ponsonby gave these
directions as he knew that Mr.. Pisani
was a nervous man. and might find
it difficult on such an occasion to rem.
der the Ambassadors language ade.
quately into eloquent and polite Turk
ish if not prepared beforehand.
The Ambassador and members OF
the Embassy in uniform, with numer-
Gus cavasses, proceeded in the state
kaik from Therapia to the Sultan's
palace. To each attache banner OF
flag was given to carry for presenta-
ton to the audience. To me was al.
lotted Turkish banner. on a very
long pole; with crescent and spear.
All the Ministers and other dignitaries
of the Porte were assembled at the pal.
ace, and stood in two lines on each
side of the Sultan as the Ambassador
and suite entered the hall.
Keeping my eyes fixed upon the Sui
tan as entered. I lowered unwittingly
the pole and banner, which we're very
heavy, and nearly carried off on the
spear the fez of one of the Ministers.
This ''gaucherie" produced sup.
pressed giggle from an attache.
for the scene was very ludicrous.
especially as Lord Ponsonby had
not warned the members of the EN-
bassy of the nature of the address he
was about to deliver, and of the in.
structions he had given to Mr.. Pisani.
Advancing with great dignity near to
where the Sutton stood. and putting
out occasionally his hand as an orator
might do, Lord Ponsonby commenced
with very grave expression of coun-
tenance, counting zone. two, three,
four; five," ETC., up to fifty, occasion.
ally modulating his voice, as if he de.
sired to make an impression upon the
minds of his hearers, putting emphasis
upon some numbers, and smiling with
satisfaction and pleasure when he
reached the higher numbers of thirty
to forty. Of course his Excellency
knew that the Sultan, his Ministers
and other officials at the court were
not acquainted with the English lam
guage.
On concluding, he turned to the in
terpreter and motioned him to speak.
Mr.. Pisani recited in very eloquent
and fowery Turkish the Ambassadors
prepared speech.
When Lord Ponsonby commenced
the enumeration, I hid my face behind
the banner, and pinched myself sharp.
ly, to check the outburst of laughter
which inwardly convulsed me.
The Sultan replied. expressing his
sense of gratitude to the British Gov
eminent, his thanks to the British naval
and military forces and their COM
as also to the ambassadors.
This Mr.. Pisani translated. Then Lord
Ponsonby commenced again to count
from sixty upward, pausing now and
then as if dwelling upon particular
which, by his voice and gest-
ure, it would appear he desired espe-
cially to impress on H. I. M. 8 mind.
Mr.. Pisani again repeated the Ian
guage which he had been desired to
prepare.
The trophies were handed over to
officers appointed by the Sultan to re-
ceive them, and the Ambassador and
his suite retired.
Not one of the Turkish officers pres
ent during the audience appeared to
have the slightest suspicion of what
was taking place, and even if they had
learned that the Ambas-
sador had counted Instead of making
speech, they would have comprehended
that the desire of his Excellency was
that his prepared speech should be
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